Testing Zone Wires and Solenoids with a Multimeter

How to Use an Electrical Multimeter to Test Zone Wires

Disconnect the COMMON wire from the controller's COM terminal and then disconnect the ZONE(S) wire from the terminal

Connect the Black test lead to the system's common wire and the Red test lead to the load wire to the solenoid valve. You should be able to read between 20-60 ohms from a good solenoid connection through the system wiring.

"OL" = OPEN CIRCUIT

0-10 ohms = SHORT CIRCUIT

20-60 ohms = NORMAL SOLENOID

70-200 ohms = PARTIAL OPEN (BAD SPLICE)

How to Use an Electrical Multimeter to Test Solenoids

"OL" = OPEN CIRCUIT

0-10 ohms = SHORT CIRCUIT

20-60 ohms = NORMAL SOLENOID

70-200 ohms = PARTIAL OPEN (BAD SPLICE)